Manufacturers and entrepreneurs can outsource their e-tailing function through an online gift service, GiftWrap.
The company is one of the first tenants to move into the new Innovation Hub science park in Pretoria.
"A lot of entrepreneurs know about manufacturing goods but they don`t know the fundamentals about e-commerce," says GiftWrap MD Benji du Toit. Many are not getting the correct exposure online and the pricing of their goods is not correct, he adds.
"However, African arts and crafts are very popular overseas," says Du Toit.
With this in mind, GiftWrap sources these products from suppliers in the townships and villages, advertises them on www.giftwrap.co.za, handles online transactions and ensures delivery on behalf of the suppliers.
"We produce the network and front-office support needed to tap into the e-commerce universe. GiftWrap does everything from when the product leaves the entrepreneur until it reaches the buyer."
There is no start-up cost as the service is commission-based from sales.
However, private customers are not GiftWrap`s only focus. "We are also tapping into the corporate network. We do corporate gifting and have recently completed a gift distribution for estate agents from Absa worth R340 000."
E-commerce involves more than a Web site so marketing is essential, he says.
To market the site, an affiliate programme has been launched to offer other Web sites the opportunity to link to the GiftWrap site and earn a commission on sales done via this link.
"The affiliate programme allows us to broaden the network, as building networks is essential to a successful business."
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